Just how far can we take the Laptop/Tablet?

[s/v Beth]

OK- chartplotter is a given, maps, weather downloads etc...
But how about
VHF-AIS capacity?
Portable radar?
Portable depth sounder?
Sat phone?

What if we could "carry on" all electronics we need with the exception of lights/running lights?

And I would buy one of these:
Getac | Rugged Tablets and Rugged Notebooks

[StuM]

VHF/AIS needs a decent antenna.
Radar needs installed hardware - transmitter/receiver
Depth sounder needs installed hardware - transducer
Sat phone needs a decent antenna

So you won't get any of those standalone on a laptop/tablet. But if you are talking about a display device which can pick up the data from the installed hardware, via cable/wifi/bluetooth - we are pretty much there already.

[s/v Beth]

Well I will start us off. After a bit of research:
VHF in the laptop:
WiNRADiO WR-G305i Receiver
It looks like it could get SSB too!

This is a pretty nifty sonar sensor. It works on Wifi and should be adaptable to a laptop.
Amazon.com : Signstek FF-011 Wireless Fish Finder FishFinder With Round Sonar Sensor White LED Backlight : GPS & Navigation
S

BGAN is a little pricey, but they say it will fit completely in a laptop case:
BGAN Portable Broadband & Phone
Now all we need is a portable radar and AIS. I bet they make them. I saw Nav lights that are "stick on" too. Wouldn't it be cool to have Nav lights that are solar powered like those garden lights that are now ubiquitous.
Just thinking....

[s/v Beth]

This is easier than I thought. Wouldn't it be crazy to walk on with all the electronics you need on your sailboat!!!

[StuM]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

Well I will start us off. After a bit of research:
VHF in the laptop:
WiNRADiO WR-G305i Receiver
It looks like it could get SSB too!

Receiver only. Still needs to be hooked up to an antenna

This is a pretty nifty sonar sensor. It works on Wifi and should be adaptable to a laptop.
Amazon.com : Signstek FF-011 Wireless Fish Finder FishFinder With Round Sonar Sensor White LED Backlight : GPS & Navigation
S

Did you see that little orange device in the bottom pictures. That's a floating transducer. Are you going to tow it behind your boat? (great for throwing in the calm lake beside your fishing dinghy, but that's about it)

BGAN is a little pricey, but they say it will fit completely in a laptop case:
BGAN Portable Broadband & Phone

Needs to be pointed directly at a satellite. Maybe OK at anchor on a calm day, but it won't be much good on the move

Now all we need is a portable radar and AIS. I bet they make them. I saw Nav lights that are "stick on" too. Wouldn't it be cool to have Nav lights that are solar powered like those garden lights that are now ubiquitous.
Just thinking....

One day maybe , but not any time soon

[roverhi]

Doubt that you are going to get one of the Getac computer with 8mb ram, 256 solid state hard drive, daylight screen upgrade, extra battery, and mobile battery charger for the price of a MacBook Air. Anyone know how much these boat friendly computers cost??

[aldahat]

MSRP:$3,359.....

[K_V_B]

Originally Posted by aldahat

MSRP:$3,359.....

You can buy several plotters for that.

And with a dedicated plotter you won't be at the whim of several companies that can pass each other the blame when things don't work.

My experience with using Tablets for navigation is mixed. On two occasions a iOS update broke MaxSea TimeZero on my iPad. The first time it took months before MaxSea had a fix out. In the mean time they just blamed Apple...

[valhalla360]

I'm confused. What is the goal?

Sure you can relay data from just about anything to a computer but without the periferal devices, the computer won't perform most of these functions. Even laptop chart plotting needs a gps reciver added (tablets mostly have them now).

Then you have the issue, if it's a true all in one device, if that device goes down ALL goes down.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

Wouldn't it be crazy to walk on with all the electronics you need on your sailboat!!!

Crazy? No, but what's the point? I can't think of any good reason why I would want to carry all of my electronics around with me. I suppose that if I were doing a lot of deliveries, and never knew what sort of electronics to expect, then it might have some utility. Otherwise? Seems like a solution looking for a problem.

But hey! If that's what you want, go for it. I don't think it is going to be anywhere NEAR as "easy" as you are imagining, and will probably end up costing more than separate instruments, but as an experiment, just to see if you can do it... It's your money, your time, do what you want.

[s/v Beth]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

I'm confused. What is the goal?.

All liget points you guys have brought up.
Goal: To be able to walk on a boat with all the equipment you need to safely navigate in your hands.
Advantage: for those chartering or delivering, knowing your equipment is calibrated and reliable.
Advantage: to be able to fix, test and replace equipment either at home or in a warm workshop or outlet and not out in the pouring rain.
Advantage: less on the boat to steal while you are gone.

Plus I like the idea of a clean pure sailboat, with added stuff only on board as needed.


You guys seem kinda crabby. No coffee?

[Mainstay]

Furuno Wireless radar - at the top of my wish list..!

1st Watch Wireless Radar DRS4W | Marine Radar | Products | FURUNO

[Muckle Flugga]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

Well I will start us off. After a bit of research:
VHF in the laptop:
WiNRADiO WR-G305i Receiver
It looks like it could get SSB too!

I'd love to see a battery rated in mAh deliver an SSB signal…

[s/v Beth]

[QUOTE=valhalla Then you have the issue, if it's a true all in one device, if that device goes down ALL goes down.[/QUOTE]

Maybe it's the point I have reached in sailing. I really don't see the need to have everything all the time. If it all we went down ( lighting strike) then I would use the skies to calibrate my compass, check my paper charts and my logbook and head for the nearest port where I could get things fixed.
It I had everything in a pelican pack (for example) and I was well offshore, I would be tempted to put everything back in the pack until the lighting was passed. And that does not even address all the damage that happens at dock.

[Muckle Flugga]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

Maybe it's the point I have reached in sailing. I really don't see the need to have everything all the time. If it all we went down ( lighting strike) then I would use the skies to calibrate my compass, check my paper charts and my logbook and head for the nearest port where I could get things fixed.
It I had everything in a pelican pack (for example) and I was well offshore, I would be tempted to put everything back in the pack until the lighting was passed. And that does not even address all the damage that happens at dock.

Now there's a sailor after my own heart! Hear hear!